Muslim island must give up polygamy as price of being part of France

[Coventina]

Source: Sydney Morning Herald

PARIS: The mostly Muslim Indian Ocean island of Mayotte has overwhelmingly voted to integrate fully with France, a move that will bring financial benefits to residents but also outlaw practices such as polygamy and early marriages.

More than 95 per cent of voters said "yes" to becoming the 101st department of France, instead of its present status of an "overseas community", the Interior Ministry announced.

The change means that the 216,300 or so inhabitants of Mayotte will progressively receive access to social benefits.

President Nicolas Sarkozy hailed the "historic moment … a dream borne by several generations". However, he also noted the path to gaining the same rights as the mainland French was gradual, over 25 years, and that transforming Mayotte into a department would be a success only if it did not "upset the economic and social balances" of the island.



Read more: http://www.smh.com.au/world/muslim-island-must-give-up-polygamy-as-price-of-being-part-of-france-20090330-9h3j.html

[msongs]

1. muslims in the UK are trying to avoid following UK law and impose Sharia on themselves....

isn't religion wonderful?

Msongs

[Tim01]

2. I was told I am a crazy alarmist for saying things like that here.

Maybe we are both crazy alarmists.

[grassfed]

5. No, they're not

The (UK) government has quietly sanctioned the powers for sharia judges to rule on cases ranging from divorce and financial disputes to those involving domestic violence.

Jewish Beth Din courts operate under the same provision in the Arbitration Act and resolve civil cases, ranging from divorce to business disputes. They have existed in Britain for more than 100 years, and previously operated under a precursor to the act.

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/crime/article4749183.ece

[Traveling_Home]

7. It is good to see that someone brings up some history...

to help fill some of the context.

For me, not believing in a mix of church and state, the only satisfactory step would have been to remove the jurisdiction of any religion's courts from civil affairs.

[damntexdem]

10. What a bunch of idiots -- giving religious courts power to resolve civil cases.

France tends to be overly-restrictive of religion; but still, vive la France!

[msanthrope]

8. Then the Beth Din should also be dissolved???

I'll wait while you Google that.

[bananas]

3. But mistresses are ok.

[Dogmudgeon]

4. They should call it "polyamoury" and have a sci-fi convention

And invite. William. Shatner.

Pas de probleme!

--d!

[msanthrope]

9. Duzy!!! But the best kind. The exclusive kind. n/t

[damntexdem]

11. The exclusive kind of polygamy?

Or of polyandry?

I'm not sure which type you're supporting.

[tama]

13. It's in the word

Gr. gamein - 'to marry', 'to fuck' - means just that, no gender specified. Polyamory - 'loving many'.

If polygyny is what is meant, of polyandry for that matter, why not give a benefit of doubt and assume that people say what they mean.

Among cultures of the world all kinds are manifested, the cultures most lacking in polyamory - 'whole lotta love' - are the ones that don't respect difference nor cherish variety in each manifestation but seek to enforce uniformity everywhere.

[paulsby]

14. capt. kirk was instrumental

in normalizing interspecial sex.

didn't matter if she had blue skin, green skin, horns, or whatever...

if she was hawt, kirk was ON IT

[PDJane]

6. We've had this discussion here.

We have had various religious ..not courts, no, but various religious tribunals, When the question came up of Sha'aria law, even Islamic women didn't want to move to that system. At that point, under the understanding that you can't give to some what you won't give to others, the system was abolished.

It's a solution that appeared to have almost universal approval. Law is law, and religion is not law.

There are very few people versed in Sha'aria well enough to set up a legal system, and fewer qualified to judge.

[damntexdem]

12. And even were there lawyers and judges well-versed, it's a horrible mistake ...

never allow secular power to religions.